RA ℞: Anti-IL6

FUNCTION Trial 2-Year Results for Tocilizumab in Early RA

Early stage RA treated with tocilizumab or tocilizumab and methotrexate realized clinical benefits with no safety concerns at two years.
rheumatologynetwork.com

Tocilizumab combination therapy or monotherapy or methotrexate monotherapy in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year clinical and radiographic results from the randomised, placebo-controlled FUNCTION trial

Objective Investigate whether the efficacy and safety of intravenous tocilizumab (TCZ) demonstrated at week 52 in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are maintained to week 104. Methods Methotrexate (MTX)-naive patients with early progressive RA were randomly assigned to double-blind 4 mg/…
ard.bmj.com

Tocilizumab alone is superior to MTX alone.

Tocilizumab high dose yields and maintains better response than low dose.

Tocilizumab + MTX gives better response and remission rates than Tocilizumab alone.  Only combination treatment significantly retarded joint damage as seen in XRays.

Comparison of adding tocilizumab to methotrexate with switching to tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with inadequate response to methotrexate: 52-week results from a prospective, randomised, controlled study (SURPRISE study)

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety between tocilizumab added to methotrexate and tocilizumab switched from methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This is a 2-year randomised, controlled study. RA patients with moderate or high disease activity despite metho…
ard.bmj.com

For inadequate responders to MTX alone, Tocilizumab + MTX gives superior response compared to Tocilizumab alone.

Sirukumab found effective, safe for highly refractory RA

The SIRROUND-T study indicates that the investigational interleukin-6 inhibitor sirukumab is safe and effective for patients with disease refractory to multiple other drugs, including biologics.
mdedge.com

Sarilumab showed sustained effect on RA progression at 3 years

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – Inhibition of RA…
mdedge.com

Kevzara (Sarilumab) receives positive CHMP opinion

The European Medicine Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued a positive opinion for the marketing authorization of Kevzara, by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and…
healio.com